In a deafening din and in the middle of the flames caused by the explosion of the engines, thirty-three motocross, scooters and quads were destroyed and reduced to dust on Tuesday by the Marseille industrial scrapyard Profer on requisition of the justice.
With the police, she wanted to give a clear signal and show her willingness to fight against the wild urban rodeos in the northern districts of the Marseille city where the crushed vehicles had been seized.
“Most of these two wheels do not have the homologation to circulate or park on the road.
When the police kidnap them and seize them, the conditions of return are drastic.
If the owners do not come forward, we destroy them, indicates Frédérique Camilleri, Prefect of Police of Marseille.
We will continue to strike hard to restore tranquility and security, these rodeos are rotting the lives of Marseillais, especially in the northern districts.
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The police no longer chase them
Balancing on the rear wheel with several passengers without helmets, backfiring engines, ignoring the Highway Code, most of the time without insurance… The images of these young drivers who have become commonplace turn on YouTube and social networks, often turning into contests videos.
“We are working with the prosecution to eradicate these rodeos that pollute people's lives.
In addition to noise pollution and the danger for road users, these motorcycles are often used for networks to communicate between different narcotics plans, ”explains Commissioner Patrick Longuet, head of the North Marseille division, which has set up a dedicated unit.
“To avoid accidents, we do not chase these vehicles but we will recover them when they are parked in a car park or in common areas.
To have precise information, we are working with social landlords and residents who contact the 17th and whom we call back.
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The State condemned to justice
The strategy of justice and the Marseille police was strong during the first confinement while these urban rodeos multiplied in the deserted streets.
Since then, 84 two-wheelers and quads have been seized, including five just last weekend.
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“It's a plague!
Even if at the moment it is a little less, it continues and I continue to leave every weekend because it is unlivable.
There are three to five on motorcycles and they spend them all day, ”says Nathalie Lafon, a resident of the Verduron district in the 15th arrondissement.
"Victim of noise and road insecurity seven days a week since 2012", she had the State condemned last August for "fault".
The Marseille administrative court, which awarded him 10,000 euros in damages, then stressed that the State had taken "insufficient measures to restore public tranquility in these places affected by the regular conduct of motorized rodeos".
The Interior Ministry has since appealed.
